Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Greer Garson
Greer Garson Facts
| Sign | Libra |
| Born |
Sep 29, 1904 London, UK |
| Died |
Apr 6, 1996 Dallas, TX |
| Age | Died at 91 |
| Total Facts | 35 |
Lana Turner remembered that in the MGM wardrobe department, Garson's fitting mannequin had the largest hips, "but she is a tall woman."
A fire at her home destroyed the original Oscar she had won for best actress in Mrs. Miniver (1942). The Academy of Motion Pictures later sent her a replacement.
Although it is sometimes bandied about as an anecdotal piece of Oscar trivia, she did not "ramble on for over an hour" after receiving her 1943 Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver (1942). Her acceptance speech was actually only 5-1/2 minutes in length. This still makes it the longest acceptance speech ever.
Best known for her role in Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 225-227. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Daughter of Nina Ross.
Donated millions to have the Greer Garson Theater built, at the College of Santa Fe. She had three conditions that had to be followed: 1) It had to be a working circular stage, 2) the first play had to be A Midsummer's Night Dream, and 3) it had to have large ladies' restrooms.
During the filming of Blossoms in the Dust (1941) she informed fan magazines that she planned to adopt two babies if she did not marry soon because every home in American should not be without children. She did not carry out her statement even though she did marry twice after declaring her wish to adopt.
Graduated from the University of London and studied at the University of Grenoble
Grand-aunt of Jamie Dornan.
Greer had three step-children, adopted by her husband Buddy E.E. Fogelson after his brother's death.
Had homes in Dallas, Los Angeles and ranch near Pecos, New Mexico.
Her first marriage lasted for the duration of her honeymoon. On her honeymoon in Austria she was practically held hostage by her possessive husband and on her return to England she moved in with her mother and her husband moved to India.
Her given name, Greer, was a contraction of MacGregor, her mother's maiden name.
In 1938 she suffered malnutrition from embarking on a crash diet to achieve the standard Hollywood slimline figure.
In 1952, she accepted the Oscar for best actress in a leading role on behalf of Vivien Leigh, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony.
In 1962, she accepted the Oscar for best actress in a leading role on behalf of Sophia Loren, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony.
In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Tina Lattanzi, except When Ladies Meet (1941) and The Happiest Millionaire (1967) where she was dubbed respectively by Giovanna Scotto and Rosetta Calavetta.
In the 1982, she turned down Aaron Spelling's offer of a part in the hit soap "Dynasty" (1981), playing mother to Joan Collins's Alexis.
In the MGM all-star spectacular Ziegfeld Follies (1945), there is a skit entitled "The Great Lady Gives an Interview" written by Roger Edens and Kay Thompson. It was originally meant to be performed by Garson as a spoof of her image in dramas such as Madame Curie (1943). She refused to do it, and Judy Garland did a satirical impersonation of her as "Madame Crematon, the inventor of the safety pin".
Measurements: 36 B/C- 25- 38
Nominated for an Academy Award five years in a row: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945. She holds the record for most consecutive nominations with Bette Davis.
Played the wife of Walter Pidgeon a total of seven times; in Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), Julia Misbehaves (1948), The Miniver Story (1950), and Scandal at Scourie (1953).
Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1990.
Replaced Rosalind Russell in the Broadway version of Auntie Mame in 1958.
She married Richard Ney after filming Mrs. Miniver (1942), in which he played her son.
She was a fan of the film Top Gun (1986).
Signed up by MGM boss Louis B. Mayer when he saw her acting on a London stage. [1937]
There is a Greer Garson Theater on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Greer also donated many of her papers and personal effects to the Southern Methodist University Jake and Nancy Hamon Library.
Tutored by Laurence Olivier during her theatre days in London.
Was a recipient of the prestigious TACA/Neiman-Marcus Silver Cup Award for her contributions to the arts in Dallas.
Was in consideration for the part of Susan Trexell in Susan and God (1940), but Joan Crawford was cast instead.
Was one of the notable celebrities, along with Rosey Roosevelt Grier, who actively supported RFK's candidacy in 1968, prior to his tragic death.
Well-known for activities on behalf of educational and cultural institutions.
While at MGM in the 1940s she said that she would liked to have been cast in more comedies rather than dramas, and was jealous that those roles were given to another redhead who recently signed with the studio, Lucille Ball. Ironically, Ball was dissatisfied at being overlooked for dramatic roles.